World Vision China has responded to the flood in Southern China that has claimed at least 75 lives, affecting 12 provinces and rendered thousands homeless, who are in “need of food and safe drinking water.”
According to Xinhua news agency, torrential rains that caused floods in Southern part have affected 39 million people, and have battered 12 provinces, killing 75 people and leaving another 13 missing and 938,000 homeless. the figure may go up, it says.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from homes in southern and central China after heavy rains toppled houses, flooded roads and damaged a dam.
Water levels on some rivers in Guangxi were the highest since 1998 when torrential downpours led to the worst flooding in over 100 years and resulted in over 3,600 fatalities nationwide, China Central Television said.
In response to the flood, World Vision said Friday it has sent two emergency response teams to Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces to carry out a needs assessment. Early reports from Du’an County, Guangxi say many townships and villages suffered crop damage in low lying areas but schools, homes, roads and basic infrastructure remain undamaged.
World Vision’s Regional Vice President Watt Santatiwat said: “Seasonal floods often have hidden effects on children. We must not grow accustomed to the fact that floods force children to evacuate their homes, affect school attendance, and erode family income.”
“In southern China an overwhelming amount of people have seen their homes damaged or destroyed by landslides or floods. Roads have washed away making it unsafe for children to travel to school,” Watt said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated into temporary shelter and are in need of food and safe drinking water,” he added.
Estimated economic losses are at 1.9 billion U.S. dollars.
World Vision China said it will begin providing assistance to 5, 265 people in Suining County, Hunan after flooding began in early June. A total of 78,975 kg of rice and 50 Child Friendly Kits will be distributed.
South and central China are prone to major flooding during the annual summer rainy season that every year leaves a trail of death and destruction.
